A worker at an Owen Sound long-term care facility tested positive for COVID-19 this week and prompted public health to declare an outbreak at the home.
The health care worker is an employee at Maple View, which is home to 29 senior residents in private and semi-private rooms.
Residents at the home have been quarantined in their rooms and will remain there until the local public health unit says otherwise, according to Richard Franzke, vice president of communications for Southbridge Health Care, which owns Maple View.
Franzke also told CollingwoodToday some staff who worked directly with the employee who is now positive for the virus have been quarantined at home and are being traced as close contacts by the health unit.
Dr. Ian Arra, medical officer of health for Grey Bruce Health Unit, said he believes the worker acquired the virus through community transmission and not from their workplace.
There are currently three health care workers with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Grey Bruce region, and all have been attributed to community transmission not from their workplace.
Arra said the staff member self-isolated at the moment of symptom onset, and the health unit was in contact with the long-term care facility and close contacts. Arra said the employee was following proper precautions while at work and was using personal protective equipment.
Franzke said the staff member has not been at work for a week.
“As a precaution, several residents and staff have been tested as they had either worked with the employee, or out of an abundance of cautions, based on symptoms they have exhibited,” said Franzke.
A single case of COVID-19 at a long-term care facility triggers an outbreak declaration by the health unit.
Arra confirmed any resident or staff member showing any symptom of illness, even those not identified as COVID-19 symptoms will be tested.
“Symptoms can manifest differently,” said Arra.
Franzke said the staff member is the only lab-confirmed case for Maple View and test results are pending for the new tests.
Since the positive result, Maple View is also taking further steps to reduce the chance of transmission.
While the home had been observing the provincial mandate of essential visitors only since March 14, they are further restricting even essential visitors by requiring them to consult with public health prior to visiting.
“Once they are approved … there are very strict expectations they need to follow in terms of contact with other residents and staff and would be required to wear personal protective equipment,” said Franzke.
Residents are monitored twice a day for symptoms and all staff are screened for symptoms before starting their shifts.
There are currently 15 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Grey Bruce region. This is the only case reported at a long-term care facility.
